Letters
Antidepressants v cognitive behavioural therapies
Antidepressants are addictive and increase the risk of relapse
BMJ 2016; 352 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.i574 (Published 10 February 2016) Cite this as: BMJ 2016;352:i574- Peter C Gøtzsche, professor
- Nordic Cochrane Centre, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
- pcg{at}cochrane.dk
In their systematic review, Amick and colleagues write that reasons for preferring psychotherapy over drugs for depression include concerns about side effects and “perceived ‘addictiveness’” of drugs.1 This addictiveness is not hypothetical, it is very real and affects about half of those treated with antidepressants.2 3 4
The authors do not discuss what is perhaps their most important …
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